In focus: How 'opticians' are seen

The optical sector has much work to do in order to increase consumer confidence, according to the GOC’s public perceptions survey 2016.

GPs remained the first port of call for people with eye health problems, with 40% of respondents saying they would go to a GP first if they woke up with an eye problem, compared to 22% who would go to ‘an optician’ and 14% to a pharmacist.

There were significant differences across the UK though – with England lagging behind at 18% of respondents considering optics their first port of call. Around a third of respondents from Scotland would head to an optometrist, along with a quarter of patients in Wales and Northern Ireland (Optician 05.08.16).